There have been many incarnations of "my line" over the years. When I first got to NYC and started working I was not exactly in the part of the industry I wanted to be in or felt connected to. Because of that, I decided to start a line with my best friend Wendy (who was also a NYC DJ) which we did after work called Space Girl.
At that time we were heavily involved in the NYC club kid scene and were super inspired by all things futuristic. When we started the line it was one of the first club wear lines in NYC and was sold to various boutiques in the US and Japan, including Patricia Field, Untitled and 99th Floor. We worked with amazing photographers, club promoters, shop owners, club kids like Candis Cayne, Girlina, Reign Voltaire, Young Richard, Michael Alig, Amanda Lepore and Peter A.
We had two fashion shows in the clubs, the first one in NYC's Limelight and the second as a part of Alternative Fashion Week at the Palladium sponsored by Absolut Vodka. Our first big show was as a part of Girls Rule at NY Fashion Week at Bryant Park. ?Daphne Rubin Vega from RENT walked the show.
We ended up getting a bunch of press and had to change our name since there was a junior label in California named Spacegirlz that had bigger pockets than us. The name then changed to Lilytank and Wendy decided to stop working on the line and dedicate herself to DJing.
As Lilytank, the line was represented by a NY showroom and we were featured again in Girls Rule for a second time as part of NY Fashion Week. ?Robyn walked for me this time and it was amazing!
Soon after that, I saw an ad for Anna Sui in WWD and applied. It was my dream and I always knew if I was lucky enough to get the job I could come back to my own line later. I got the job.
In 1999 I partnered with a backer friend, developed a line under my own name, Pamela Thompson and opened a signature store on E. 9th Street in NYC's East Village. Another monumental milestone was now coming to life and I am forever grateful for the opportunity I had even if short lived. Differences of opinion on how the shop should be run led the shop to close eventually and I went back to work full time.
My next attempt to launch a line was in 2008. I was now a seasoned designer and knew my customer. With no backer but my own shallow pockets, I launched my own vignette ?dress line called Pamela Thompson. I did everything myself from design, production, sales and shipping. I worked during nights and weekends and pounded the pavement to sell sell sell. The dress line was very successful and the stores were looking to next season for more merchandise. Then along came....LILY...my daughter, who became my world and led to my next and current venture....Tiny Frock Shop.